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Former Greenville, SC Teacher Accused of Felony Sexual Conduct with a Student, Faces Criminal Sexual Charges

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Former High School Teacher Faces Criminal Sexual Charges

A former high school teacher in Greenville, SC faces criminal sexual charges for sending obscene text messages and photos to two of her students, along with sexual battery of a minor, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. In total, she faces 6 criminal sexual charges, including sexual contact with a 17-year-old student.

The teacher, Michelle Stabach Jensen, was just hired as a full-time teacher at the J.L. Mann high school in Greenville, SC. She started in August of this year as a substitute teacher, and was hired officially in October.

J.L. Mann’s principal became aware of the situation after another teacher at the school reported overhearing two students talking about the photos and text messages. The principal called the Greenville City Police, and questioned Jensen about the incident, with an officer present, on November 9th. During the questioning, Jensen resigned.

She was released from the Greenville County detention center on November 16th on a personal recognizance bond.

The 40-year-old former teacher from Simpsonville faces 5 criminal sexual charges and one charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. A judge set her bond at $13,000.

Criminal Sexual Charges with Minors is a Serious Crime in South Carolina

Although the legal age of consent in South Carolina is 16, a law passed in 2010 makes sexual conduct between teachers and students a felony, regardless of age. Because of Jensen’s criminal sexual charges, under this law she could face up to 5 years in prison with felony charges. According to the Department of Education, since the law passed, 17 teachers across South Carolina face criminal sexual charges. This year alone, 8 teachers have had their licenses revoked or temporarily suspended because of allegations.

Criminal Sexual Charges Can Affect Your Future

Criminal sexual charges in South Carolina can ruin your future
Criminal sexual charges in South Carolina can ruin your future

If you have criminal sexual charges on your record, you could be denied future opportunities for jobs or education.

Whether you have been arrested and charged with:

▪    statutory rape,

▪    solicitation of a minor, including internet sex crimes,

▪    sexual assault,

▪    criminal sexualconduct/rape, or

▪    possession or distribution of child pornography

Our criminal sexual conduct lawyers are familiar with the system.  The Strom Law Firm, LLC understands the implications of a sexual conduct conviction

According to the South Carolina Judicial Department, criminal sexual conduct requires:

  • That the accused engaged in sexual battery with the victim; and
  • That one or more of the following circumstances are present:

A. the accused used aggravated force to accomplish the sexual battery, and/or

B. the victim submitted to the sexual battery under circumstances where the victim is also the victim of forcible confinement, kidnapping, robbery, extortion, burglary, housebreaking, or any other similar offense or act.

C. the accused caused the victim, without the victim’s consent, to become mentally incapacitated or physically helpless by administering, distributing, dispensing, delivering, or causing to be administered, distributed, dispensed, or delivered a controlled substance, a controlled substance analogue, or any intoxicating substance.

The Strom Law Firm’s attorneys collectively have 30 years of experience with the criminal justice system. We can help you with criminal sexual charges in South Carolina, as well as Georgia and New York. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today. 803.252.4800.

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